2013 is a great year to purchase a new home, especially for buyers in the state of Illinois. As of January 1, all new McHenry County real estate will be 32 percent more energy efficient than those built under the old energy codes put into effect in 2006.

What does that mean for you the buyer? Before a home is even built, it must go through a modeling program to determine the energy efficiency and, if necessary, modify the building specifications to make sure it will meet code. Then, before it is occupied, a home must meet a pressurization test to make sure the home is built tight enough to meet the code of five air changes per hour or less. 

Features of these more energy efficient homes include power ventilated gas furnaces and water heaters, walls insulated to R18 with attics insulated to at least R38, Low-E glass with better insulating properties in windows and basements with fully-insulated foundations using vinyl-wrapped fiberglass on the inside of the foundation walls. In order to provide adequate ventilation, bathroom fans can run constantly to draw in a small amount of outside air and attic units can bring in fresh air and thermally control it before sending it to the furnace. Additionally, appliances must be more efficient and temperature, moisture and air infiltration controls must be more effective.

These new regulations ultimately increase the price of new homes in Poplar Grove, McHenry and Richmond, but if you purchase an older home, it may not be up to code. For more information on the new energy efficiency regulations and Gerstad Builders, check out the recent Daily Herald article with an interview from Roger Gerstad.

At Gerstad Builders, our new homes are semi-custom and built to meet or exceed the new energy efficiency regulations. For more information on how you can purchase a new home in one of our three Illinois communities, visit www.GerstadBuilders.com. In addition to Illinois, we also build beautiful new homes in Williams Bay, Wis.